[NFBMD] Congratulations to Sharon Maneki - 2023 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Winner!

Thu Aug 17 01:27:23 UTC 2023

Agree totally.
Shawn
P.S.  I was away from my Email since June 3rd while traveling; that is why I haven't written until now.
Shawn
Shawn Jacobson
sdj60259 at aol.com

    On Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 07:36:32 PM EDT, Sherry Smith via NFBMD <nfbmd at nfbnet.org> wrote:  

 Congratulations, Sharon! That is awesome and an award you deserve. Thank you for all you do to help the blind. You truly are a blessing from God.
Sherry Smith
On Sun, Jul 16, 2023 at 4:46 PM Ronza Othman via NFBMD <nfbmd at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Federation Family,

I am delighted to share that Sharon Maneki, Immediate Past President of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, was awarded the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award on July 6, 2023.  Sharon received this very prestigious award for her tremendous work to advance legislation to protect and advance the civil rights of blind people in Maryland.

Sharon Maneki has served as the Legislative and Policy Advocacy Lead in Maryland since 1986 and continuing to the present.  In this capacity, she has led the NFB of Maryland’s work to advocate for, draft, and get the General Assembly to pass literally dozens of bills that improve the lives of blind people.  She also has handled thousands of individual cases for blind Marylanders from Social Security to employment to state benefits to reasonable accommodations.  

Here are some of the legislative initiatives that she championed:

   - Maryland was the first state to pass a bill that requires all blind students, regardless of visual acuity, to receive Orientation and Mobility training;
   - Maryland was the first state to pass a Braille bill, which requires all blind students to receive Braille instruction, regardless of visual acuity;
   - Maryland was among the first states to pass a Blind Parents Bill, which prohibits judges from considering blindness as a factor when making custody decisions;
   - Maryland was the first state to require that all Teachers of Blind Students be Braille certified and receive recertification every five years;
   - Maryland was the first state to pass a bill that set a standard for Braille instruction for reading, writing, and mathematics.
   - Maryland was the first state to pass a law requiring the State government to procure only accessible software, hardware, and platforms, consistent with the standards in the Federal Section 508 requirements;
   - Maryland was the first state to pass a law requiring all K – 12 school districts to procure only accessible software, hardware, and platforms, consistent with the standards in the Federal Section 508 requirements;
   - Maryland was the first state to require the inclusion of an accessible textbook mandate for college and professional students;
   - Maryland was the first state to require the inclusion of an accessible textbook and learning resources mandate for K – 12 students;
   - Maryland was the first state to enhance protections for guide dog users so that retired guide dogs have the same housing protections as active guide dogs;
   - Maryland was among the first states to pass an accessible prescription labels bill;
   - Maryland was among the first states to make it a crime to injure or kill a service animal;
   - Maryland was the first state to pass legislation requiring accessible tactile markings on electric scooters as well as accessible complaint procedures;
   - Maryland has passed literally dozens of other laws that protect our civil rights, give us access to information, enable us to compete on terms of equality, and undue harmful policies.  These include areas from employment to health care, to life and health insurance, to procurement, to access to rehabilitation services, and so much more.

Because of Sharon’s efforts, including the guide dog housing and accessible prescription label bills that just passed in the Maryland General Assembly in April of 2023, the over 112,000 blind and low vision Maryland population experiences access to information, civil rights protections, and so much more.  Sharon’s contributions have been incredible and sweeping.

The Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards honor individuals and organizations that are a positive force in the lives of blind people. Each year the National Federation of the blind presents the awards at its annual convention. The Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards are funded by the National Federation of the Blind with assistance from the Alfred and Rosalind Perlman Trust, which was created by a bequest left to the Santa Barbara Foundation and the NFB by Dr. Jacob Bolotin’s niece-in-law, author Rosalind Perlman.

Dr. Jacob W. Bolotin (1888-1924) was the world’s first physician who was blind from birth. He achieved that goal despite the tremendous challenges faced by blind people in his time. Not only did he realize his own dream, but he also went on to support and inspire many others.

Sharon Maneki exemplifies Dr. Bolotin’s vision, and her work is a true demonstration of the initiatives and contributions this award celebrates.

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

Pronouns: she, her, hers

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back

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